Reno set to host Olympic boxing hopefuls at tournament

Reno is ready to greet the nation's best amateur boxers to see who will have a chance to represent the United States at next summer's Olympics in Brazil.

Sixty-nine athletes will be competing in nine weight classes for a spot on Team USA beginning Dec. 7 with the finals set Dec. 11 and 12 at Reno Events Center. It's a double-elimination tournament so an off-night will not end someone's dream.

"This is going to be an exciting week," said USA Boxing executive director Mike Martino. "We have some talented fighters competing and the fans who come out to watch are going to be highly entertained."

It has been a long road to get to this point with nearly a full year of qualifying events as USA Boxing has tried to come up with a fair and equitable way to make sure the best boxers don't miss out on the opportunity to present their country. There were three Pathway to Glory men's trials held in June, September and October.

After the Olympic Trials, there are still three events to compete in before you can grab your passport for Brazil. AIBA, the international boxing federation, has a tournament in March, another in May and a final last-chance tournament in June. The number of competitors in each division for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro will range from 18 to 28 depending upon the weight class.

"We've got to get our boxers some experience," Martino said of the qualifying tournaments still to come. "I know it's a little confusing for the fans but you no longer just send a team over from whoever qualified at your national trials. it's different now but we should get most of the guys who win in Reno to Rio."

Surprisingly, no Nevada fighters are competing at the Olympic Trials.

"Yeah, that is a big surprise," Martino said. "Usually we have a kid or two from Vegas and from Reno."

Unfortunately, the Trials will not be televised. However, the finals on the 12th will be streamed live on the NBC Sports website.

BATTLE OF BROOKLYN — One of the more anticipated fights of 2015 will be held Saturday at Barclays Center as Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin faces Daniel Jacobs in a battle of Brooklyn middleweight stars on Showtime.

Quillin (32-0-1, 23 KOs) held the WBO title while Jacobs (30-1, 27 KOs) is the WBA "regular" champion.

"The fans have waited a long time for this fight and now it's finally here," said Quillin, 32. "I was back in the gym on Monday after my fight (in October) against (Michael) Zerafa preparing for December 5. I know there is so much at stake for me — a belt and Brooklyn bragging rights. It's going to be a night to remember for me and for all of Brooklyn."

Jacobs, a cancer survivor, said of the fight: "Peter and I go back a long time, but this is business. I'm the champion and he's the challenger. I'm going to do everything I can to win on December 5 and show the world that I'm the best Brooklyn has to offer."

MORE HBO CHANGES — First it was president of sports Ken Hershman. Now, senior vice president Mark Taffet is leaving HBO.

Taffet, who spent 32 years at HBO and oversaw the network's pay-per-view efforts for the last 25 years, will leave the company at the end of the year. He added that he will remain connected to boxing.

"I have a passion to want to be part of it," Taffet, 58, told ESPN.com. "I feel the best way to do that at this point is not with HBO but with entities on the other side of the playing field.

"It will give me tremendous fulfillment. I have no intention of leaving boxing."

— Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him: @stevecarprj